5 Signs It’s Time to Automate Your File Transfers

Is your team drowning in manual file transfers? Learn the telltale signs it’s time to automate your file transfer processes and free your IT team from repetitive tasks.

Your IT team’s morning standup probably sounds something like this:

“Hey, did anyone upload the customer data file?”

“The finance export failed again…”

“Who’s handling the partner integration files today?”

“We missed another SLA because the transfer script broke…”

Sound familiar? If you’re nodding your head, your file transfer processes might be crying out for automation. Let’s explore seven unmistakable signs that it’s time to level up your file transfer game.

You’re Playing ‘Musical Chairs’ with File Transfers

Remember when Dan from IT went on vacation and nobody knew how to run his special file transfer script? Or that time Sarah left the company and took all her file transfer knowledge with her? When your file transfers depend on specific people, you’re one sick day away from a business disruption.

Here’s what this fragile dependency often looks like:

// Dan's Special File Transfer Script - "Don't touch or it breaks!"
const transferFiles = async () => {
  const config = {
    server: '<ftp://legacy-system>',
    user: process.env.DAN_USERNAME,  // Only Dan knows this
    password: process.env.DAN_PASSWORD,  // Stored in Dan's personal .env file
    path: '/some/cryptic/path/that/only/dan/remembers'
  };
  // 200 more lines of sparsely documented code...
};

The ‘It Works Fine’ Fallacy

Your current process might seem fine on the surface, but let’s peek under the hood at what’s really happening with those manual transfers:

// The "It Works Fine" Script of Doom
function transferFiles() {
// Step 1: Pray the VPN is working
    connectToVPN();

// Step 2: Hope you remembered the correct folder
    const sourceFiles = getFiles('/some/folder/probably');

// Step 3: Cross fingers and transfer
    if (isFullMoon() && sacrificeAccepted()) {
        transferToDestination(sourceFiles);
    }

// Step 4: Assume it worked because who has time to check?
    return true;
}

That script might look familiar—and that’s exactly the problem. Manual processes often evolve into a complex web of undocumented procedures, tribal knowledge and crossed fingers. The real cost isn’t just in time spent; it’s in the constant fire-fighting, error recovery and business delays that come with manual file handling.

Security: The Elephant in the Room

Your current security measures probably resemble a house of cards—precarious and prone to collapse. That “temporary” FTP server from 2019? Still running. That shared login used by the entire department? Still active. Those file transfer logs you’ve been meaning to review? Still nonexistent.

Below is a list of common security risks you might be faced with:

The Compliance Conversation

Picture this: An auditor walks into your office and asks for detailed records of all sensitive data transfers from the past year. Does your stomach just drop? That’s a sign. Without automation, maintaining compliance becomes a game of chance—one where the stakes are uncomfortably high.

Modern solutions like Progress MOVEit managed file transfer software transform compliance from a nightmare into a non-event by automatically tracking every aspect of your file transfers. Every user action with a file is timestamped, logged and readily available when you need it.

The Growth Problem

When your business grows, but your file transfer processes don’t, the cracks start to show. What worked for 10 transfers a day breaks down completely at 100. Those manual processes that seemed “good enough” suddenly become major bottlenecks. The signs of scaling pain are clear:

1. More frequent transfer failures
2. Increasing security incidents
3. Missed deadlines and SLAs
4. Rising stress levels in your IT team
5. Growing backlogs of manual tasks

When your file transfer processes can’t keep up with business growth, you’ll see clear warning signs like increased failures, security issues and team burnout. These scaling challenges signal it’s time to move beyond manual processes to an automated solution.

Take Action Now

Don’t wait for a crisis to modernize your file transfers. Look into managed file transfer solutions, like Progress MOVEit software, that can automate your processes, enhance security and enable compliance. Your team (and your blood pressure) will thank you.

Ready to stop playing file transfer roulette? Take the first step toward automation today. Your future self will appreciate the investment in proper file transfer automation—trust me, I’ve been there.